Final Term Assignment of

Aircraft Accident Investigation-1

Course instructor:

W/C Imran Ahmad

Course:

BS Aviation Management
Semester 7th

Submitted by:

Muhammad Arslan Aslam

BAM -9234

What are the essential steps to carry out aircraft accident investigation? What are the impediments to investigation of aircraft accident?
When an aircraft crashes, it is important to investigate the cause, so that we can learn from it and prevent it in the future.

1. Issuance of Notification at first

When an air accident occurs, first step is taken by the state of occurrence, is to notify the accident to the state of registry, state of design, state of manufacture, state of operator. If, in any case, state of occurrence is not aware of a serious accident, state of operator or state of registry will notify the aircraft accident.

2. Investigation of Aircraft Accident or serious incident (Steps)

Investigation is always in alert position before an aircraft accident occurs. When it occurs, investigation starts. Aircraft accident investigation process consists of following steps after the isolation of air crash site as soon as possible.

a. Gathering of Accident relevant data in a methodical manner

Following steps will be included in this step of accident investigation Examining the wreckage (site visitation); the investigator visits the site and examine the scattered and main wreckage and collects data through photography. The photography is taken by special photographer. Medical examination (autopsy examination) of victims in the accident; autopsy examinations are also taken to identify the condition of the victims before the accident. Obtain aircraft related data; like Aircraft type, manufacturing company, passengers on board, engines manufacturing company. Review of all relevant documents; certificate of airworthiness and certificate of maintenance and the most important is flight plan. Review of procedures of flight operation; all procedures that were included in the whole flight from take off to landing or parking. Review of potential legal issues; local laws and regulations

Interviews of Witnesses (individuals) with knowledge of facts (operational personnel at there); it includes the interviews from eye witnesses and other operational personnel worked in aviation environment.

b. Analysis of Collected Data

Evaluating the evidences of witnesses; it includes the evaluation of witnesses statements whether those are matching with the situation or not. Matching/evaluating of CVR or FDR and ATCO recordings and transcriptions; CVR or FDR are true evidences of the accident occurred because these would tell what actually was happened. Report the finding; in findings basic reasons of the accidents were mentioned. Documenting the investigation; Draft final report will be issued and after that final report will be issued after the 12 months of the accident and if final report is not prepared due to continuing some investigation process then it will be updated each year.

c. Making Recommendations regarding accident avoidance;

Recommendations would be given to the authorities and implemented them after approval of them.

3. Take appropriate actions for improvement.

If there will be need of change in some procedure or any facility or operation, then it will be implemented and came in practice for improvement.

Impediments to Investigation
Following impediments might be present during investigation: Not access to the true evidence; every air crash investigator want to explore the hidden reasons/conditions to find out the true reasons of air crash. Sometimes they didnt get access to such evidences that would be tarnish someones image so some cases take many years to resolve/to take an end. It can be due to the uncooperativeness of people. Witnesses problems; Some witnesses dont want to discuss the accident properly because of (fear) not having the responsibility of the accident or some witnesses define many unneeded things. Sometimes witnesses are not ready to talk about the accident because they are shock after some days of the accident. Some witnesses have different background than other people, they didnt want to give evidence as expected by the

investigator, and it can be due to the culture of specified region like in our rural Islamic culture. Some people dont welcome to the investigators to give witness. Media; media is very reliable now a days. It also creates hindrance because media want to respond from the investigator and asks many questions after the accident. Investigators might irritate. External Pressures; there are some pressures like time, political and organizational pressures on the investigators.